By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW –  Four new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Kosciusko County, according to the Indiana Department of Health website.

The county has now recorded 62 deaths. The county’s case number is now at 6,132, which is up from 5,957 reported on Monday, Dec. 14.

The color-coded county metrics map on the IDH website shows a majority of Indiana counties in the “orange” category, with 26 counties in the “red” category. Color-coded county metrics are based on each county’s seven-day positivity rate and the number of newly reported weekly cases per 100,000 residents. Orange counties are categorized as such when they have a 10 to 14.9% seven-day positivity rate and/or 100 to 199 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents. Source: Indiana Department of Health

While Kosciusko County remains in the orange category, two neighboring counties – Elkhart and Whitley – remain in the “red” category in the method used by the state to track COVID-19 metrics.

IDH relies on a color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed.

The baseline for red is 15 percent.

Kosciusko County’s positivity rate is 14.5%, according to the state dashboard. This is an increase from a 12.5% positivity rate reported last week.

Elkhart and Whitley Counties have 16.9% and 20.6% positivity rates, respectively; both of these rates have decreased since last week.

Under Gov. Eric Holcomb’s pandemic requirements, social gatherings of any kind in red counties are limited to 25 people. A special, seasonal or commercial event for which more than 25 people will be in attendance must submit a plan to the local health department at least seven days in advance and receive approval before proceeding. College and professional sports are included.

The Wabash County Health Department recently reported one new COVID-19 death, bringing the county’s total to 32. The death occurred on Monday, Dec. 14. Wabash County has 2,362 positive cases.

Statewide, the IDH website shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana rose to 6,781, which is up from 6,530 reported on Monday.

The total positive number of COVID-19 cases in Indiana is now at 440,850. More than 5,050,000 COVID-19 tests have been administered to Hoosiers.

Locally, Fulton County has 1,221 positive cases and Whitley County has 2,123 positive cases, which is up from 2,049 reported on Monday. Marshall County has 4,086 positive cases, which is up from 3,987 reported on Monday; Noble County has 3,512 positive cases and Elkhart County has 21,145.

In other northern Indiana counties, Lake County has 35,536 positive cases, which is up from 35,098 reported on Monday; Allen County has 24,770 positive cases, which is up from 24,247 reported on Monday; and St. Joseph County has 22,123 positive cases, which is up from 21,779 reported on Monday.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 304,000 people in the United States have died due to COVID-19.